And we’ve got the studio version for our playlist, as usual. Did we mention that it’s an absolutely electric song? You can see it here, courtesy of The Late Show with Steven Colbert. Along the way, Monae proves her point that visibility and equality aren’t merely conduits to community, but rather the strongest American ideals of all.
#Emotional gay pride songs free
Americans calls out by name the ways in which discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, racio-ethnic background, and socioeconomic status all work to inhibit a truly free America. Monae rejects reductive labels and spotlights the overlapping oppression that endangers LGBTQ identities and other disenfranchised people. “Because it’s gon’ be my America before it’s all over.” Monae conjures a choir-like vision for a truer and stronger America–one in which majoritarian sensitivities are no match for the strength of intersectional identities. We all have a role to play, and you can get started by opening your eyes and ears to the artists we’ve featured in this month’s Music that Matters, knowing that JusticeAid sings alongside you.Īmericans is an anthem for anyone who searches for solidarity despite being forced to the margins of society. This is about visibility, affirmation, equality, and revolution. This isn’t just about who we get to love and how we ought to feel about it. These are songs that focus on intensely personal issues that many millions of people have had to hide for too long. And we need to hear the music that continues to comfort and empower our LGBTQ neighbors while their basic safety remains a daily unknown. We need to hear songs that shouted identity and orientation out loud, no matter the dangers involved. We need to hear artists who risked their careers for their beliefs and their love. We need to hear songs that gave solace to those who had to hide. Still, we can’t meaningfully touch on every theme or issue with a single blog post, especially because, as always, we give “protest songs” a broad meaning.
JusticeAid recognizes that the very nature of discrimination often involves oversimplified accounts of human experiences, and so we’ve tried to deliver a diverse representation of music reflecting queer perspectives on issues regarding queer liberation. Sexual orientation and gender identity subsume an enormous swath of issues, perspectives, and individual movements, each of which deserve their own attention. JusticeAid supports a future in which all Black lives, including LGBTQ lives, are safe and protected. They risked and gave their lives for all LGBTQ people-past, present, and future. Amongst them, and long before Obergefell, brave Black trans and queer people stood up to adversity with pride, courage, defiance, and perseverance. Black lives do indeed matter, for many reasons. And just this week, on June 15, 2020, a majority of the Supreme Court agreed with equality advocates that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects Americans from workplace discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity.Īcross the nation, we’re also witnessing history in the making of a similar and not unrelated sort. Exactly 12 years later, on June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court finally enshrined equal marriage rights for all, in Obergefell v. It took too long, but on June 26, 2003, the Supreme Court ruled that Texas’ anti-sodomy laws were unconstitutional. The following year, a peaceful mass protest in New York City commemorated Stonewall-the first Gay Pride parade in American history. The Stonewall riots that catalyzed the Gay Rights Movement erupted on June 28, 1969. June is a special time to celebrate Pride, and it is Pride Month for many reasons. This month we focus on social justice movements surrounding gender identity and sexual orientation. W elcome to this month’s Music that Matters.